Thermal lensing and small signal gain measurements in a pulsed blue diode pumped Ti:sapphire amplifier at room temperature

Ultra short pulse Ti:sapphire lasers, crucial for most demanding applications, have traditionally been complex and costly due to their pump sources. GaN-based laser diodes offer new prospects for pumping, yet challenges persist in achieving sufficient Ti:sapphire output power and beam quality. We introduce what we believe to be a novel approach using pulsed blue laser diode pumping of a Ti:sapphire amplifier. Experimental setups with free-space output and fiber-delivered laser diodes are used to measure small signal gain (SSG) and thermal lensing. Results show the potential of fiber-delivered blue laser diodes, achieving an SSG >33% with reduced thermal load, paving the way for compact and low cost blue laser diode-pumped Ti:sapphire amplifiers at room temperature.